Sustainable Sunglasses: The Search Continues

My search for sustainable sunglasses continues. In my previous blog post I gave readers two options for cute eco-friendly sunglasses from iWood and Kayu. But readers mentioned that $180 to $370 dollars was too pricey for a pair of sunglasses — even sustainable ones.

I’m happy to report another (slightly less expensive) option in eco-friendly accessories: Oakley just launched its first pair of sustainable sunglasses. Priced at $100, these eco-friendly sunglasses are at the lower end of Oakley’s price spectrum.

Oakley recently introduced its first pair of eco-friendly sunglasses made from recycled materials and accented with 100 percent certified-organic bamboo. Photo Courtesy Oakley

Oakley uses excess materials produced from the manufacture of other eyewear to create the frame of the Bob Burnquist Signature Recycled Gascan sunglasses. The Oakley labels that accent the frame and the included storage bag are made from 100 percent certified-organic bamboo. The sunglasses’ packaging is made from recycled materials and uses eco-friendly inks.

Made for men, these sunglasses have a chunky black frame and a simple design. Yet this product may mean more sustainable sunglasses (and maybe some with feminine designs) in Oakley’s future.

The sunglasses honor Oakley skateboarder Bob Burnquist, a supporter of green initiatives and environmental protection. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the sunglasses will go to the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC), an organization that educates others about environmental responsibility, and was co-founded by Burnquist in 2001.

Do you own a pair of sustainable sunglasses? What do you think of Oakley’s first attempt at sustainable eyewear? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!